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Commenced:
1800 Concluded: 1910
PRESENT
Councillor Ian Greenwood (Chair)
Community Directors:
Greg Lucas (West Bowling)
Jahnzaib Sarwar (West Bowling)
Joe Holloway (Marshfields)
Zahera Hanif (Marshfields)
Akhtar Khan (Park Lane)
Jamshed Khan (Park Lane)
Business Directors:
Vipin Joshi - Sector Foods
Advisers:
David Wilkinson - Interim Chair – BTTL
Staff in attendance:
Steve Hartley - Chief Executive
David Mosley - Company Secretary
Judith Atkinson - Programme Manager
Mark Fielding - Neighbourhood Manager
Wayne Noteman - Programme Manager
Darrrell Gregoire - Programme Manager
Zubare Khan - Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Umar Hayat - Community Involvement Programme
Co-Ordinator
Linda Lawson - PA to Chief Executive
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from:
Councillor Sher Khan - Council Director
Councillor Mohammed Jamil - Council Director
Sister Julie McGing - Faith Director
Munawar Khan - Community Director (Park Lane)
CS Sarah Brown - West Yorkshire Police
Khalid Mahmood - Community Director (Marshfields)
Will Jennings - Accent Regeneration
Nick Whiteside - Operations Director, LSC
Chas Stansfield - Programme Manager
1. GOVERNANCE OPTIONS
Mark Fielding gave an update on progress relating to future governance of the organisation. The Board had previously identified the Parish Council model as the most appropriate way forward. A parish review was conducted by the Council and there were petitions for and against. The next meeting of the Bradford West Area Committee is due to take place in January/February and we need to allow enough time for the Parish Council to be ratified by central government in order for elections to take place in 2008.
Mark Fielding advised that since the Board’s last discussion there has been a DCLG Local Government White Paper published which gives further support to Parish Councils and gives the option of using alternative names including ‘Neighbourhood Council’ or ‘ Community Council’. Furthermore the White Paper proposes to give quality Parish Councils the power of well being and remove the necessity for the district council to refer the creation of new Parish Councils to central government, but is unlikely to become law until Spring 2008.
The Council is also supportive of new parish councils and is in the process of preparing a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’, which highlights the protocol between council and parishes.
Bradford Trident has a very good asset base and an income stream, which will need to be well regulated. A Parish Council will be transparent, well regulated, give power of democracy and its powers will be legally bound. The Parish Council option (which has been the favourite option), could also be called a Neighbourhood Council will have 6 wards. Two councillors from each ward will be elected on to the Bradford Trident Board.
Other options available are:
Directly Elected Community Directors – this option would not give us full access to the electoral roll and thereby not all residents will participate. There is a cost involved for the election process of £10/12k, which would have to be done by an outside body.
Selected Community Representatives – the representatives would be selected by the Board with help from independent advisors.
Nominated Community Representatives – the representatives would be nominated by organisations with the help from independent advisors.
The Government favour the model of the Neighbourhood Council as this is legally transparent. Legal advice would be taken.
Akhtar Khan raised the issue of the precept, which is the major concern for residents. Trident could pledge not to levy a tax, but how long could Bradford Trident support this.
Ian Greenwood felt that more detail could be obtained on the potential for a contract. The contract would be between the Charity and Parish/Neighbourhood Council, and the Government would have to agree as this would be public money.
Mark Fielding stated that Trident will continue, all the funds will be in a trust and will be able to use the interest. We do have access to our own resources and it would be a tragedy if the Government clawed back the money.
Akhtar Khan felt that options 3 and 4 could be eliminated. Now have to decide between options 1 and 2. There is a fear of the precept associated with option 1 and unsure why we need another council when we already have one. There is community concern regarding allocation of housing.
Ian Greenwood stated that we will continue housing in some shape/form. A Neighbourhood Council would continue and over time all housing could be done beyond the original 10 years. Ian felt doubtful that the Government would accept option 2.
Akhtar Khan felt that it would be difficult to convince the community who believe there is no money left for housing.
Ian Greenwood reported that the Government grant will be coming to an end and is difficult to say at this time how much the Reyner House site will raise.
Steve Hartley pointed out that although NDC funding will be coming to an end, Bradford Trident will have their own income and other sources of funding will be available.
David Mosley stated that the Government would support a Neighbourhood Council and would possibly remove the clawback.
Vipin Joshi felt that we needed to speak as one voice and to be clear about the message for the future.
Jahnzaib Sarwar thanked the Board for the information and agreed that the precept is the issue. Jahnzaib asked how long could a contract be agreed for with regards to the precept and the possibility of entering into public consultation before termination and abide by the decision. Ian Greenwood felt that this was a good idea.
Mark Fielding stated that European countries first tier of government is 1 representative per 2,000 people, but is different here. Government see Neighbourhood Councils as a way of engaging people locally and have a greater say on how their area is run and more opportunity to bid for further funding.
Greg Lucas stated that they need to be more informed about the process of setting up a Neighbourhood Council and to ensure that gender/ethnic mix is fully represented in the area.
Steve Hartley felt we needed to demonstrate support for the Neighbourhood Council and set up elections for May 2008 alongside Local Government elections. We need to decide how the rest of the Charity board is made up, with elections you get who is voted in but can keep key partners ie police, private sector etc.
Ian Greenwood stated that we need a minimum number of women in the Charity constitution. If we agree in principle we need to communicate to the community and give suggested answers to any questions raised.
Akhtar Khan asked if we could opt out if we are not happy?
Ian Greenwood replied that if we are a Neighbourhood Council and we are not delivering, possibly, and could be built into the constitution.
Mark Fielding advised that the White Paper makes assembly and disbanding possible at local level by the Council.
Akhtar Khan asked if there was an inner city council that we could visit. Ian Greenwood stated Washington Town Council, County Durham is highly regarded and effective in working class former mining area. Steve Hartley also gave Stockport as a good example of a deprived area who had gained local control, also Keighley.
David Wilkinson stated that he understood the challenge of precept to cover costs and fund local spending. If we get future governance right Bradford Trident can cover both with rental/asset income. The issue is governance, NDC funding is public funds subject to legal challenge.
Ian Greenwood stated that if we are serious about community cohesion, we need people to work together and a neighbourhood council will encourage this.
Akhtar Khan raised the issue of boundaries. Ian Greenwood stated that boundaries have been identified but are not fixed.
Ian Greenwood felt that a useful debate had taken place. A clear timeline is needed and will cover all issues raised.
Vipin Joshi moved in principle.
Jahnzaib Sarwar seconded.
All in favour.
2. REVIEW OF PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING PROGRAMME
Wayne Noteman explained that the Private Sector Housing Programme has been running since 2001 with the help of community consultation, the Private Sector Housing Strategy Action Plan and Neighbourhood Action Plans.
As a result the NDC Housing Programme is achieving 3 out of it’s 4 outcomes and an opportunity has arisen to review the individual projects and make recommendations for the way forward.
Wayne Noteman gave a list of options.
Akhtar Khan stated that Melbourne Terrace is missing from the figures of not having been part of the Facelift Scheme.
Wayne Noteman stated that the Facelift Scheme is expensive and we need to rationalise the moneys available. There were options to reduce the specification, but the Housing Working group were against that decision.
The recommendation for the Facelift Scheme to continue in its current form with the money allocated in 2007/8, equating to 27 properties @ £15,000 each was agreed. Procurement for the work to be done in individual trade packages.
@ Home in BD5 after completion of the current Facelift scheme will become much quieter and would be unsustainable over the longer term.
Steve Hartley will look at other uses for the shop. It may be that we bring wardens, green team and police in. If not, we will rent out.
Proposed: Jamshed Khan
Seconded: Akhtar Khan
The meeting closed at 7.10 pm.
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